Paramore are a band. But then, we’re all Paramore. And now Paramore are pop, apparently. All these statements run true, and all of them are absolutely brilliant.
Two for two into their latest album ‘After Laughter’, Paramore’s musical advance manages to be both evolution and revolution in the same breath. The mainstream friendly pop punk emo of ‘Riot’ and ‘Brand New Eyes’ was in part left behind on their wildly successful fourth self-titled album, augmented by a day glow desire to play with more colourful, vibrant influences. Now they’ve taken that to extremes.
Like lead single ‘Hard Times’, ‘Told You So’ is near tropical. Almost math rock guitar lines sparkle like the bright sun over a summer ocean. The cocktail umbrellas almost audibly spin in their fruity glasses. And yet, like ‘Hard Times’, that juxtaposition between music and lyrics remains. Upbeat in vibe, raw in content - dancing to the downers is Paramore’s thing now, and it’s nothing short of magnificent.
‘After Laughter’, according to the band, is concerned with that moment after the joy, where true feeling shines through. After years of line-up upheaval, it’s impossible not to feel a tiny nugget of the pain Hayley and Taylor have been through to get here, but with original drummer Zac Farro back in the fold an a glorious escape route has opened. Laugh it up. Stephen Ackroyd
With a cast of collaborations that reads like a who’s who of modern alternative music and a debut album drowning in a sea of critical acclaim, Phoebe Bridgers has finally delivered her follow-up, 'Punisher'. No matter what the world throws up, there’s no stopping her now.
